How it started
History
The predecessor of the company, Asahi Breweries (朝日麦酒株式会社), was established in 1889. In 1893, it was reorganized as Ōsaka Breweries (大阪麦酒株式会社). In 1906, Ōsaka Breweries merged with Nippon Breweries and Sapporo Breweries to form Dai-Nippon Breweries (大日本麦酒株式会社; lit. 'Great Japan Beer Company'). During World War I, German prisoners worked in the brewery.
After World War II, the company was divided under the Elimination of Excessive Concentration of Economic Power Law by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. Asahi Breweries (朝日麦酒株式会社) was separated from Nippon Breweries, which is now Sapporo Breweries. In 1989, it was renamed to katakana (アサヒビール株式会社). In 2011, Asahi Breweries changed its name to Asahi Group Holdings, a holding company, and established Asahi Breweries Ltd as a subsidiary.
In 1990, Asahi acquired a 19.9% stake in Australian brewery giant Elders IXL, which later became the Foster's Group and was subsequently sold to SABMiller.
In 2009, Asahi acquired the Australian beverages unit Schweppes Australia, now known as Asahi Beverages.
In early 2009, Asahi acquired 19.9% of Tsingtao Brewery from Anheuser-Busch InBev for $667 million. The sale made Asahi Breweries, Ltd. the second largest shareholder in Tsingtao behind only the Tsingtao Brewery Group.
From Wikipedia’s article on Asahi Breweries, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2